Once the most crucial center of trade in Singapore, Clarke Quay has transformed drastically over the last few decades and has evolved into a place for dining, shopping and even adventure today. Located along the Singapore River and right next to Liang Court (Singapore's unofficial little-Japan) is the four-star Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay. The Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay is just minutes away from the Clarke Quay MRT Station and is easily accessible via public transport. If you wish to take the MRT, get off at Clarke Quay or City Hall and make your way down to this strategically placed hotel. With 403 different rooms and suites, the Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay also has brand new conference facilities to suit the growing needs of the business landscape.

I stayed in a Premier Room with a King-bed configuration during my stay at the Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay. When you stay in a Premier Room or Suite, you will be able to check-in into your room at the exclusive Premier Lounge (instead of having to queue in the lobby like everyone else). Upon reaching the Premier Lounge (which was refurbished in 2012), I was offered a drink while the friendly lounge staff proceeded to check me in. You will receive the following benefits and facilities at the Premier Lounge:

Complimentary Buffet Breakfast (6am to 1030am)

Happy Hour (6pm to 8pm)

Complimentary Broadband Internet Access & Wi-Fi

Complimentary use of Premier Lounge Meeting Room (max 2 hours per day on a first come first served basis)

Complimentary Secretarial Services

Library (magazines & books)

The first thing you will notice when you walk into the room is the amazing view - more on this later! I was pleasantly surprised to see how spacious the room was. Also, despite having a rather dated exterior, I was definitely pleased to see that the Premier Room design was actually simple but contemporary (more importantly, showing no signs of age!). You will find a spacious work desk with the necessary connectivity options for you to get some work done (if you are here on business).

The Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay is also one of the lucky few Accor hotels in the region to trial the new entertainment systems. If you are visiting Singapore for the first time, fret not! You will be able to find out more about your surroundings from the TV easily - otherwise just check with the friendly concierge who will be more than happy to help. What really impressed me though was the ability to order food from the TV. You will be able to customise your orders directly from the TV (e.g. a medium rare or a well done steak) and you will not have to place your orders over the phone again (we all know how painful that can be at 7am in the morning).

If you want to do some light reading in the day, there's a seat by the window for you to gaze out and relax while enjoying ample natural lighting from the full-length windows. Don't get too excited if you think you see a balcony on the room. The balcony can not be accessed for your own safety but trust me, sitting by the window and watching the River Cruise go by (while being in a comfortable air-conditioned room) is truly a therapeutic experience.

If you are still wondering about that view from the Premier Room that I talked about, here it is. This is what you see when you look out of your bedroom. Apart from being able to take in the sights of the Singapore River and the surrounding Clarke Quay area, you will be able to see Southeast Asia's largest light and water show (Wonder Full) at Marina Bay Sands at night from the comfort of your bed.

A Nespresso machine is also provided in the room for your convenience - although you should probably head down to the Premier Lounge for a coffee since you have access anyway. Complimentary drinking water is also provided in the room and the fridge has ample space for you to put your own shopping. While you are there, you should definitely check out the Meidi-Ya Supermarket located at the basement of Liang Court to stock up on delicious and affordable sushi (go after 8pm for even better prices!)

The bathroom of the Premier Room comes with a decent-sized bathtub as well as a separate rain-shower (not pictured above).

Bathroom amenities were provided by Novotel's in-house brand and while there is nothing to be excited about, I really thought that the organisation and presentation of amenities were ingenious (and perhaps pleasing to those with mild-OCD). Everything was carefully placed into its respective slots which on the other hand, makes it also impossible for the housekeeping staff to accidentally miss out on replenishing any - ingenious!

Happy Hour runs from 6pm to 8pm if you have access to the Premier Lounge. Apart from a selection of wines, beers and alcoholic beverages, finger-food is also served for those of you who feel peckish easily.

Apart from the usual cheese selection and sandwiches that you usually get in most hotels' executive lounges, you will also find a selection of fruits, sushi, desserts, hot food items and even burgers (which I got while I was there) at the Premier Lounge - definitely sufficient to make for a decent-sized dinner.

While I was there, I lost count of the number of these little sachets of joy during Happy Hour. Besides, free-flow alcoholic beverages do not help to jolt my memory.

If you would like a table by the window with a view of the Marina Bay Sands, be sure to come into the Premier Lounge early because those strategic seats fill up pretty quickly.

As mentioned previously, Premier guests will also be able to use the meeting room at the Premier Lounge for a maximum of 2 hours on a first come first served basis. If you do not have your laptop with you, you may use one of the computers in the lounge for free. Printing is also complimentary for Premier guests so if you are an international visitor departing Singapore, you can easily check-in into your flight and print out your boarding pass at the Premier Lounge for free.

While complimentary breakfast is served at the Premier Lounge from 6am to 1030am daily, you may also opt for the full buffet breakfast at The Square located on lobby level. There are also seats out on the terrace overlooking the swimming pool if you are in need of Vitamin D. Honestly, the breakfast at The Square was pretty ordinary and the spread was decent but limited. Since it also gets rather crowded, I would definitely recommend you to have your breakfast at the Premier Lounge where it is quieter instead.

Even though Novotels are predominantly business hotels in general, they are usually located in excellent locations which make them great accommodation options particularly if you wish to explore the city or the surrounding areas a little more. In addition, the Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay is also a family-friendly hotel as children stay (up to 16 years old) and dine (up to 12 years old) for free at this property.